Irvine Patnick

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many telephone calls Bernhard Ingham made to the then hon. Member for Sheffield Hallam between 15 and 19 April 1989;
	(2)  on which occasions the then hon. Member for Sheffield Hallam visited 10 Downing Street in 1989.

David Cameron: The information is not held.

Nurseries

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many childcare places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such childcare places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

David Jones: No child care places are or have been provided on the Wales Office estate. However, all staff with children are eligible to apply for the Salary Sacrifice Scheme for Childcare Vouchers, which enables staff to choose their own child care provider and to have their child care costs reduced as a result of tax savings.

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on Taliban co-operation with the US on security and peace negotiations.

Alistair Burt: As President Obama has stated, members of the US Government, in co-ordination with the Afghan Government, have had direct discussions with the Taliban. At the start of the year, the Taliban issued a statement on its website expressing willingness to open a political office in Qatar. The Afghan Government has also expressed support. On 15 March, the Taliban announced they were suspending talks with the US.

Gambia

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Gambian government on the resumption of the death penalty and state executions in The Gambia.

Mark Simmonds: Since his speech on 19 August when President Jammeh pledged to begin executing death-row prisoners, the UK has made its opposition to the recent and sudden use of the death penalty in The Gambia clear. Our high commissioner in Banjul has made several representations to the Government of The Gambia, including the Foreign Minister and the Attorney-General, on behalf of both the UK and the EU, both before and after the executions were confirmed. The Foreign Office has also made representations to the Gambian High Commission in London. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), issued a statement on 25 August expressing concern over the then-unconfirmed reports of executions. We will continue to work bilaterally and with international partners to apply pressure where appropriate to help prevent further executions.
	We support the concern expressed by Navi Pillay UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, about the executions, and will seek opportunities, including within the UN system, to reinforce it. In November, the UN General Assembly will vote on a Resolution in favour of a world-wide moratorium on the death penalty, which we are actively supporting.

South East Asia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation members on the security situation in the South China Sea.

Hugo Swire: Ministers and officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have discussed the South China sea with most APEC members on many occasions.
	The South China sea is a vital global trade artery and the UK has a strong interest in the maintenance of stability and freedom of navigation in the region. We encourage all parties to resolve their territorial disputes peacefully, in line with international law. We call on all parties to show restraint and abide by international norms for the safe conduct of vessels at sea.

Sri Lanka

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the government of Sri Lanka's National Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

Alistair Burt: The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Action Plan contains a number of steps which, if implemented, would usefully address some of the LLRC recommendations. We now look to the Sri Lankan Government to implement the Action Plan and to take the further action on reconciliation, accountability and political settlement, as set out in the March 2012 Human Rights Council resolution.

Electricity: Carbon Emissions

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to include a target to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030 in the Energy Bill.

John Hayes: holding answer 17 September 2012
	The Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the economy, and already has a number of binding commitments to ensure that this takes place. In particular, the Government is committed to meeting a legally binding target to reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to at least 80% below 1990 base levels by 2050 as set out in the 2008 Climate Change Act, which established a long-term legally binding national framework by putting in place a system of five year carbon budgets; and the UK obligations under the 2009 renewable energy directive.
	Analysis published in the December 2011 Carbon Plan suggests that the most cost-effective paths to deliver the 2050 target require the electricity sector to be largely decarbonised during the 2030s.
	The Department is currently undertaking further work on the issue of decarbonisation of the power sector ahead of the progression of the Energy Bill. In particular careful consideration is being given to all the recommendations of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, including those related to the level of grid decarbonisation.

Bees

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the paper by the Chemicals Regulatory Directorate that reviewed four separate scientific studies on the links between nerve-agent pesticides and declines in bees around the world which was discussed at the 3 July meeting of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; what his policy is on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides that the findings do not provide sufficient justification for precautionary action on the use of neonicotinoids in the UK at this stage; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Government take very seriously any threat to bees, which are important in their own right and as key pollinators. We have therefore kept the evidence on neonicotinoids under close and open-minded scrutiny and have made it clear that we are prepared to take whatever action is necessary. This action could include restricting or withdrawing the approved uses of neonicotinoids.
	New research was published earlier this year, suggesting that low doses of neonicotinoids could have sub-lethal effects on bees with consequences for bee populations. We arranged for this to be assessed alongside the existing evidence. The assessment was carried out by experts from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive; DEFRA's Food and Environment Research Agency; DEFRA's Science Advisory Council; and the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides. A document summarising the evidence and the experts' assessment will be placed on the DEFRA website very shortly.
	DEFRA's Chief Scientific Adviser has considered the expert assessments, alongside parallel work by the European Food Safety Authority, and has advised that:
	Some of the studies, including those by Whitehorn et al and Henry et al, provide evidence of sub-lethal effects of neonicotinoids in the conditions applied in the research.
	However, none of the studies gives unequivocal evidence that sub-lethal effects with serious implications for colonies are likely to arise from current uses of neonicotinoids.
	Existing studies submitted in support of the current regulatory approvals fully meet current requirements. They do not explicitly address all of the sub-lethal effects suggested by the academic research. However, they do cover a wide range of important outcomes and, in these studies, hives exposed to treated crops did not show any gross effects when compared to control hives exposed to untreated crops.
	Based on these findings, the Government has concluded that:
	It is appropriate to update the process for assessing the risks of pesticides to bees in the light of developments in the science, including the latest research. This exercise should include the development of a new risk assessment for bumble bees and solitary bees, alongside an updated risk assessment for honey bees. This work is being taken forward in Europe and UK experts are active in this. The aim is to complete this highly complex task by the end of 2012.
	Further research will be carried out to fill identified evidence gaps, including the questions raised about the relevance of the recent studies to field conditions. The Government has already put new research in place to explore further the impacts of neonicotinoids on bumble bees in field conditions and to understand what levels of pesticide residues and disease in bees are normal.
	The recent studies do not justify changing existing regulation. However, the research that we have put in hand and the on-going work in Europe to develop the risk assessment could change the picture and it is always possible that further new evidence may emerge. As our knowledge develops, we will continue to consider the need for further research and for any changes to the regulation of neonicotinoids.
	We are currently considering wider policies on bees and other pollinators and will set out our position shortly.

Procurement

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on taking into account when assessing tenders submitted for departmental contracts the (a) apprenticeship schemes, (b) policies on employment of paid interns and (c) policies of payment of at least the living wage of each bidding company.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA’s policy is set out in its sustainable procurement policy statement which can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/sustainable-procurement-policy-statement.pdf
	In evaluating tenders, DEFRA takes account of information such as the bidding company's arrangements for developing employees' skills and expertise, e.g. through training, apprenticeships and graduate development programmes.

West Coast Railway Line

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discretion he has under the terms of the Invitation to Tender in respect of the West Coast Main Line franchise to pause or terminate any discussions or agreements with any of the bidders before both parties have signed the contract.

Patrick McLoughlin: In the Invitation to Tender the Department reserves its rights to alter the timetable or the process, or to terminate the process at its sole discretion.
	As a result of a legal challenge, which the Government intends to defend robustly, we have not yet signed the contract with First, and therefore the competition remains live. We expect to sign the contract soon.

Asylum: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether G4S and its subcontractors have started to use Angel Lodge in Wakefield to accommodate asylum seekers; how many people are being accommodated in Angel Lodge currently; and how many people will be accommodated when Angel Lodge is at capacity.

Mark Harper: holding answer 14 September 2012
	G4S are currently in discussions with the Citrus Group and in turn with the Angel Group to utilise Angel Lodge for the use of initial accommodation for asylum seekers. At full capacity Angel Lodge can accommodate 220 persons.

Cybercrime

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the cost of cyber crime to the UK economy.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 11 September 2012
	It is very difficult to give an accurate figure to the cost of cyber crime to the UK economy.
	For example, the Detica "Cost of Cyber Crime" report, published in February 2011 in partnership with the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Cabinet Office, estimated the cost of cyber crime to the UK to be £27 billion per annum. A copy of this report will be placed in the House Library.
	A truly robust estimate will probably never be established, but it is clear the costs are high and rising.
	This is why the Government has committed £650 million to the National Cyber Security Programme to support economic prosperity, protect national security and safeguard the public's way of life by building a more trusted and resilient digital environment.

Deportation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants who were ordered to be deported were not deported on human rights grounds in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The data requested is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports.
	The Home Office publishes immigration statistics annually and quarterly, which are available from the Home Office Research and Statistics website. This includes information on removals. The latest statistics can be found in the Library of the House as well as on the following website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2012/

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Ministers were first advised that G4S would not be able to provide the security support for the London 2012 Olympics that had been contracted.

James Brokenshire: Following ongoing discussions, G4S confirmed on 11 July 2012 that they could no longer meet their contractual obligations.

NHS: Complaints

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the five most common complaints about the NHS were in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: Two data sets on national health service complaints are published annually by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, which relate to hospital and community health services, and general practice (including dentist). Subject categories differ between these data sets. The 'other' categories includes all complaints not picked up by the other categories.
	The following tables indicate the top five subjects complained about in each data set for the past five years:
	
		
			 Top five complaints by subject: Hospital and community health services 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 1 All aspects of clinical treatment All aspects of clinical treatment All aspects of clinical treatment All aspects of clinical treatment All aspects of clinical treatment 
			 2 Attitude of staff Attitude of staff Attitude of staff Attitude of staff Attitude of staff 
			 3 Appointments, delay/ cancellation (out-patient) Appointments, delay/ cancellation (out-patient) Appointments, delay/ cancellation (out-patient) Communication/ information to patients (written and oral) Communication/ information to patients (written and oral) 
			 4 Communication/ information to patients (written and oral) Communication/ information to patients (written and oral) Communication/ information to patients (written and oral) Appointments, delay/cancellation (out-patient) Appointments, delay/cancellation (out-patient) 
			 5 Other Admissions, discharge and transfer arrangements Other Other Admissions, discharge and transfer arrangements 
		
	
	
		
			 Top five complaints by subject: General practice (including dental) health services 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 1 Clinical Clinical Clinical Clinical Clinical 
			 2 Communications/ attitude Communications/ attitude Communications/ attitude Communications/ attitude Communications/ attitude 
			 3 Other General practice administration General practice administration General practice administration General practice administration 
			 4 General practice administration Practice/surgery management Other Other Other 
		
	
	
		
			 5 Practice/surgery management Other Practice/surgery management Practice/surgery management Practice/surgery management

Older People: Rehabilitation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to assess the provision of rehabilitation services for the elderly.

Norman Lamb: The Department has no specific plans to assess the provision of rehabilitation services for older people. However, through the National Intermediate Care Audit, providers are able to assess their own performance at supporting timely discharge from hospital (and preventing unnecessary acute admissions). The provision of rehabilitation services is a matter for the local national health service, working in conjunction with local authorities, patients and other key partners. However, the Department is pursuing a number of policies to help people stay well in the community, and to regain their independence after a period of support either in hospital or residential care. Here, the interaction between hospitals and community-based services is key.
	The Government recognises the importance of care and support to improving local health and wellbeing, which is why we are putting funding behind the integration agenda. At the 2010 spending review, we announced that, over the four years to 2014-15, £2.7 billion would be transferred to local authorities from the NHS to promote better joined-up working across the health, care and support system.
	Recently, it was announced that the health system will transfer a further £100 million and £200 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, over and above the funding set out at the spending review. The new funding will further support local areas to deliver social care services that benefit people's health and wellbeing, by promoting more joint working between health and care. This will enable local areas to transform their services and to deliver better integrated care that saves money across the whole system: for example by supporting people to maintain their independence in the community for as long as possible.

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Harris: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, 
	(1)  what assessment the Commission has made of the potential effect on timescales for and progress with planned essential maintenance and renovation to the Palace of Westminster of (a) the decision by the House to meet for a two-week period each September and (b) any future decision by the House not to meet for a two-week period each September;
	(2)  what estimate the Commission has made of the costs arising as a result of the decision by the House to sit for a two-week period each September;
	(3)  what assessment the Commission has made of (a) options for and (b) the likelihood of the House meeting in an alternative location to allow essential maintenance and renovation work to the Palace of Westminster;
	(4)  what assessment the Commission has made of the potential savings that could be made if essential maintenance to the Palace of Westminster did not have to accommodate the House sitting for a two-week period each September;
	(5)  what advice the Commission has received and from whom, on the potential effect of the decision by the House to sit for two weeks each September on the costs and timescales of essential renovation and maintenance work planned for the Palace of Westminster.

John Thurso: As explained in evidence submitted to the Procedure Committee for their review of the parliamentary calendar,(1) it is not possible to determine accurately the costs or risks of breaking up the long recess, as costs will vary from project to project, and hence from year to year.
	Major projects being undertaken this summer, notably the mechanical and electrical works in the Palace of Westminster including the corridor works on the Principal Floor, were planned around the known sitting dates. There were no quantifiable additional project costs. However, it will not always be possible to schedule works to fit a shorter summer recess without additional costs, and some projects cannot be deferred indefinitely. An analysis prepared by the Director General, Facilities for the Finance and Services Committee in 2011 suggested that, if there were a permanent reduction in the uninterrupted period available for summer works to five weeks, the overall cost penalty would typically be of the order of £1.5 million, predominantly in capital costs, based on the mix of projects undertaken in 2011-12.
	Routine maintenance and the rolling programme of projects to the Palace of Westminster are planned around known sitting dates, and project timeframes therefore reflect this constraint. The key factor for the Parliamentary Estates Directorate is certainty about the parliamentary calendar to allow for effective planning.
	Apart from the works programme, the marginal costs of September sittings are relatively low because most other operating costs are fixed for the year as a whole and are unaffected by the number and distribution of sittings. Marginal costs of a two week sitting in September are about £200,000, mainly as a result of increased Hansard costs and late-night working. If sitting in September resulted in fewer sitting days at other times, there would be offsetting savings.
	In January 2012 the Commission appointed a Study Group to examine the long term requirement to renew the infrastructure of the Palace of Westminster. In its terms of reference the group was asked to examine the full range of options, including a temporary re-location of Parliament. The report of the Study Group is expected to be submitted to the Commission and the House Committee of the House of Lords next month.
	(1) Written evidence submitted by the Clerk of the House and Chief Executive, available at
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmproced/writev/1370/p220.htm

Children: Protection

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure his Department is able to work with the Troubled Families Unit in the Department for Communities and Local Government to evaluate the effect of working with families in cases where there is serious concern about neglect.

Edward Timpson: The Troubled Families programme is supported by seven Government Departments. A cross Whitehall group of Ministers is collectively responsible for the implementation of the programme. The Department for Education is represented on both the ministerial and senior officials' group, and officials at working level meet and communicate regularly. The Government is developing robust evaluation arrangements for the programme. Families involved in the programme are likely to include some where there are concerns about child neglect, and this is one of the problems the programme aims to address.

Aerials: Planning Permission

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to simplify and speed up the process for planning applications for mobile telephone masts.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 11 September 2012
	The National Planning Policy Framework is a major step forward in simplifying the planning process and we are already seeing evidence of more positive decision-taking.
	The Government wants to cut back on unnecessary information and is consulting on 'Streamlining information requirements for planning applications', consultation closed 11 September 2012.
	On 6 September 2012, the Government announced a series of additional measures to remove unnecessary bureaucracy. This includes working with mobile operators, local government and other interested parties to consider ways that the planning process might be streamlined to speed up the deployment of mobile infrastructure.

Affordable Housing: Haringey

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes for (a) social rent and (b) intermediate or low-cost home ownership were built in the London Borough of Haringey in each year since 2001.

Mark Prisk: Statistics on the provision of affordable housing supply by local authority are published in the Department's live tables 1006, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
	These statistics show additional affordable housing provided for social rent, intermediate affordable housing and all affordable housing but include both new build and acquisition or refurbishment of existing dwellings. Affordable housing statistics that focus solely on the new build component are not published at the local authority level but the following table shows how many affordable homes for social rent and intermediate or low-cost home ownership were built in the London borough of Haringey in each year since 2001.
	
		
			 New  b uild affordable homes for social rent, intermediate rent and low-cost home ownership for the London borough of Haringey 
			 new build 
			  Social rent Intermediate rent Low cost home ownership All affordable 
			 2001-02 120 0 30 150 
			 2002-03 90 0 10 100 
			 2003-04 220 0 80 300 
			 2004-05 140 0 60 200 
			 2005-06 220 0 230 450 
			 2006-07 90 0 140 240 
			 2007-08 100 0 170 280 
			 2008-09 100 40 110 250 
			 2009-10 130 20 80 230 
			 2010-11 140 20 30 180 
			 Notes: 1. Figures compiled from the Homes and Communities Agency's administrative data and local authority returns (the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, the P2 return and the P1B return). 2. Estimates for 2010-11 revised in January 2012 to reflect data changes made as a result of local authority representations on the provisional allocations for the New Homes Bonus. Final 2010-11 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix data (as published 30 November 2011) were also incorporated. 3. Includes homes where the cost is met by a private developer (e.g. Section 106 agreements). 4. New dwellings are shown by the local authority in which they are located which occasionally differs from the sponsoring authority. 5. Figures shown represent our best estimate and may be subject to revisions. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	From 1 April 2012, the Mayor of London has had oversight of strategic housing, regeneration and economic development in London. The Mayor's housing strategy proposes to provide 55,000 new affordable homes in London over the current spending review period, as part of the national programme of delivering 170,000 new affordable homes across England.

Children: Protection

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Troubled Families Unit plans to develop good practice guidance in relation to families where there are serious concerns about neglect.

Brandon Lewis: The Troubled Families Unit is looking at what works most effectively to address the problems troubled families face and we are working with the Department for Education to strengthen work with troubled families where there are child protection issues, including concerns about child neglect.
	Professional training materials on child neglect, commissioned by the Department for Education have been available on their website since June. The Department for Education are in the process of revising statutory guidance in this area to give local areas more freedom to organise their services in a way that meets local need, and to enable practitioners to focus on the individual needs of each child. The Troubled Families Team will continue to work closely with the Department for Education in this area.

Electric Cables

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of electrical fires caused by counterfeit or falsely marked electrical cabling in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The information on causes of fire provided by Fire and Rescue Authorities to the Department does not include whether cabling was counterfeit or falsely marked.

Fire Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether his Department has made an assessment of the recommendation by the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities for a flat-rate reduction to all fire services;
	(2)  if he will consider implementing the recommendations by the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities for a flat-rate reduction to all fire services;
	(3)  what plans the Government has to ensure fairness in its planned reductions to regional fire services.

Brandon Lewis: On 17 July the Government published the Technical Consultation on Business Rates Retention detailing proposals for local authority funding from 2013-14. Responses are welcomed from all fire and rescue authorities by the closing date of 24 September. All representations, including those from the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities, will be considered before final decisions are made.

Green Belt

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what his policy is on the extent to which local authorities may relax existing green belt boundary rules in order to support new housing;
	(2)  whether he has any plans to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of green belt land.

Nicholas Boles: The Green Belt is an important protection against urban sprawl, providing a ‘green lung’ around towns and cities. The National Planning Policy Framework delivers the coalition agreement to safeguard green belt. The framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of the green belt, and boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. Any changes to green belt boundaries must be made through the local plan process, which involves consultation with local people and formal examination in public. The Government have no plans to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of green belt land.

Local Government Finance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what population data will be used to calculate local government finance, council tax and business rates from 2013 onwards.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 17 September 2012
	We are currently consulting on the technical detail of the new Business Rate Retention scheme to be introduced from 2013-14, including on which population data to use. The consultation can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/businessratestechnical

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties have been bought under the NewBuy Guarantee scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of properties which will be bought in each of the next 10 years.

Mark Prisk: Statistics, including the total number of properties sold under the NewBuy Guarantee scheme as at 30 June 2012, will be made publicly available on Thursday 27 September and will be published on the DCLG website in the form of an official statistical release.
	The scheme is run by the Home Builders' Federation and is demand led. It is not possible to accurately estimate future annual sales.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of construction jobs created by the NewBuy Guarantee scheme since its introduction.

Mark Prisk: The Government is committed to reviewing the NewBuy Guarantee scheme in 2014. This review will include an assessment of the number of additional homes built and jobs supported by the scheme.
	The Home Builders Federation has estimated that at least 25,000 additional new homes will be built in total as a direct result of NewBuy. This number of new homes would support up to 50,000 additional jobs.

Nurseries

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many childcare places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such childcare places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Brandon Lewis: The Department does not provide any child care places to its staff on its estate. DCLG assists its staff with child care costs by providing a child care vouchers scheme and enabling staff to join a child care salary sacrifice scheme.

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much she has allocated to each local authority and each of the devolved administrations to incentivise the roll-out of super-fast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: The funding allocations were published by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in August 2011 and can be found on the DCMS website at the following link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/telecommunications_and_online/7763.aspx

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much new fibre has been laid as part of the super-connected cities programme;
	(2)  what progress has been made on phase 1 of the super-connected cities programme;
	(3)  how much was awarded to each of the super- connected cities as part of phase 1 of that programme;
	(4)  how many households she expects will receive ultra-fast broadband by 2015 as a result of the super-connected cities programme.

Edward Vaizey: Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of £100 million for Phase 1 of the Super-Connected Cities programme in the autumn statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-819, the 14 eligible cities submitted outline proposals in February 2012. These were assessed and ranges of allocations were announced for the four capitals and six other winning cities in the Budget 2012. The detailed plans of the 10 cities chosen were submitted in August 2012 and are being assessed. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), will announce shortly the final funding to be awarded to each of the Phase 1 cities.
	Successful procurement and delivery of all the projects to be supported under Phase 1 of the Super-Connected Cities programme, up until March 2015, will provide access to new ultrafast and wireless broadband connectivity to a significant number of residential premises and businesses. Detailed information on the additional connectivity to be provided by cities under the programme will not be finalised until decisions on the funding awarded to the successful cities has been agreed.
	Furthermore, additional ultrafast and wireless broadband connectivity will result from city plans under Phase 2 of the programme (with a further £50 million funding aimed at smaller cities) details of which will be available once the Phase 2 cities have submitted their plans later this month. A decision on the funding to be awarded to the successful Phase 2 cities will be announced later in the autumn.

Mobile Phones

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when her Department expects to receive state aid clearance for the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

Edward Vaizey: Government is discussing the Mobile Infrastructure Project with the European Commission and hope to receive state aid clearance to its procurement timetable.

Type 26 Frigates

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the decision to be made on whether to build the new Type 26 Frigates in Portsmouth.

Philip Dunne: The Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is currently in its assessment phase, with the results of this phase due by the middle of this decade, following which the main investment decision is expected to be made. The build location of the vessels will be confirmed after the main investment decision point.

Community Orders: Vale of Clwyd

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many community payback schemes have taken place in Vale of Clwyd constituency in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The Community Payback Scheme is currently delivered by 35 probation trusts covering England and Wales. The number of community payback work projects undertaken by each probation trust is not recorded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Wales Probation Trust has been able to provide data for the period from April 2009 to March 2012.
	During this period 822 community payback work projects were undertaken in the county of Denbighshire, with in excess of 80% of these undertaken in the Vale of Clwyd constituency. In the year 2011-12, 192 offenders resident in Denbighshire were sentenced to community payback. During the same period, 29,373 community payback hours were worked in the county, the majority of which would have taken place in the Vale of Clwyd constituency. A snapshot survey of community payback undertaken by NOMS during March 2011 showed that approaching 5,000 individual community payback work projects are operated each month across England and Wales.

Peterborough Prison

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to facilitate the timely removal of foreign prisoners from HMP Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: MoJ is working hard to reduce the foreign national offender (FNO) population in the UK. We are working towards compulsory prisoner transfer agreements with a number of countries and are improving administrative processes and communication with FNOs who are eligible for voluntary return to increase removals this way. We are also developing a more strategic approach to how HMG funding is used to improve standards in prisons in our high volume FNO countries, to help facilitate returns to these countries.
	Reducing the FNO population in the UK is a key priority for the Government. The UK has PTAs with over 100 countries and territories, most of which are voluntary and require the prisoner's consent to transfer. However, as part of our strategy to reduce the FNO population, we are seeking to negotiate more compulsory PTAs, which will not require the consent of the prisoner to transfer, with our high volume FNO countries.
	In addition to this we are working to reduce the flow of FNOs into the criminal justice system through the use of conditional cautions; and reduce the number of FNOs already serving prison sentences through the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) and Tariff Expired Removal Scheme (TERS).
	FNOs in HMP Peterborough are not subject to any special consideration when facilitating removals beyond that of any other foreign national in our prisons. All FNOs are referred to UKBA for consideration for deportation.

Air Passenger Duty

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total revenue collected from air passenger duty was in each year since 1 April 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The total revenues from air passenger duty (APD) for each financial year from 1995-96 to 2011-12 are set out as follows.
	
		
			 Financial year Total receipts (£ million) 
			 1995-96 343 
			 1996-97 356 
			 1997-98 493 
			 1998-99 837 
			 1999-2000 882 
			 2000-01 948 
			 2001-02 806 
			 2002-03 816 
			 2003-04 791 
			 2004-05 864 
			 2005-06 905 
			 2006-07 971 
			 2007-08 1,994 
			 2008-09 1,862 
			 2009-10 1,856 
			 2010-11 2,155 
			 2011-12 2,607 
		
	
	HMRC publish data on APD passenger numbers and revenues online, at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx

Railways: Fares

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered using the revenue budget underspend in the financial year 2012-13 in the Department for Transport estimates to offset the rise in rail fares in January 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: This Government recognises the concern about the rising cost of living and has taken action to support households—we cut Fuel Duty last year and it will have been frozen for 21 months. We have also helped those in work by raising the Personal Allowance by £1,100 in April 2013—the largest tax cut for the median earner in over a decade. This comes on top of Council Tax freezes and a reduction in rail fare caps in 2012.
	The Government monitors the cost of living closely and keeps all policy options under review.

Taxation: Rates and Rating

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the exchequer of reducing the 45 per cent income tax band to (a) 40 per cent and (b) 38 per cent.

David Gauke: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at Budget 2012 that the additional rate of tax on income over £150,0.00 will be 45% from April 2013.
	(a) The cost of reducing the additional rate from 45% to 40% is estimated to be around £600 million per year.
	(b) The theoretical cost of reducing the additional rate from 45% to 38% is estimated to be around £1,100 million per year.
	A 38% rate would result in an additional rate lower than the 40% higher rate of income tax. This would result in marginal tax rates falling when income is over £150,000.
	HMRC’s Report "The Exchequer effect of the 50% additional rate of income tax" presents the evidence and expected Exchequer impact of changing the additional rate.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office report, Central Government's implementation of the national Compact.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 13 September 2012
	Although HM Treasury is not a delivery department, and the focus of its role is ensuring that departments deliver on the Government's objectives and provide value for money in the delivery of services, we do engage with the sector, including in the areas of social finance and, working with HMRC, charity tax.
	As with all Government Departments HM Treasury is signed up and committed to the principles of the civil society compact, as stated in our most recently published business plan. Steps have included: the appointment of a senior responsible officer within the department to help provide strategic oversight and to improve awareness of compact principles in respect to consultations, and; the strengthening of complaint handling procedures for dealing with compact related concerns.

Alternative Vote

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister against what criteria the decision to propose to Parliament in 2010 that there should be a referendum on the voting system for elections to the House of Commons was judged; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The Coalition programme for government stated the Government's view. It set out the need for:
	“fundamental political reform, including a referendum on electoral reform, much greater co-operation across party lines, and changes to our political system to make it far more transparent and accountable.”

Military Medals Review

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the second stage of the Military Medal Review, led by Sir John Holmes, will report; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Sir John Holmes has started work on the next stage of the Military Medals Review and is expected to complete this phase of the work sometime during the autumn.

Adult Education: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors spent in Liverpool, Walton constituency on adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in each year since 1997; and how much he expects his Department to spend in each of the next three years.

Matthew Hancock: holding answer 13 September 2012
	The following table shows the Government's measure of FE and skills funding on literacy and numeracy courses for learners aged 19 and above in Liverpool, Walton constituency, from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Data for 2005/06 is the earliest year for which comparable sub-national data are available. Due to the length of the time series, data is not available on a consistent basis so figures may not be directly comparable.
	
		
			 Table 1: Further education and skills estimated funding on literacy and numeracy courses by learners aged 19+ in Liverpool Walton parliamentary constituency, 2005/06 to 2010/11 
			 £ 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			 Literacy 359,000 489,000 472,000 673,000 463,000 531,000 
			 Numeracy 318,000 438,000 420,000 659,000 473,000 523,000 
			 Notes: 1. Data for 2005/06 includes data for the learner responsive funding stream only. 2. Data for 2006/07 includes data for the learner responsive and apprenticeship funding streams only. 3. Data for 2007/08 and 2008/09 includes data for the learner responsive, apprenticeship and train to gain funding streams only. 4. Data for 2009/10 and 2010/11 includes data for the learner responsive, apprenticeship, train to gain and workplace learning funding streams only. All data excludes community learning. 5. Figures for estimated funding come from the ILR. They should not be treated as actual spend, and are only used to give an indicative view on the proportion of monies spent at each level. 6. Figures relate to learners aged 19 and over and include a small number of learners with an unknown age. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Bankruptcy

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how he plans to ensure that the role of the Adjudicator as proposed by his Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding Up consultation remains impartial and independent.

Jo Swinson: The consultation on Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding proposed that the adjudicator should be located within the Insolvency Service but be separate operationally from the office of the official receiver.
	Responses to the consultation are being carefully considered and I expect to make an announcement shortly.

Consumers: Protection

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's consumer protection unit.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not operate a consumer protection unit. However, consumer policy is developed within BIS' Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate and is enforced by Trading Standards Departments and the Office of Fair Trading.
	Trading Standards play a critical role in protecting consumers and businesses in their local authority areas, in particular from rogue traders. As part of the consumer landscape reforms, we established the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) which brings together representatives of Trading Standards from England and Wales to prioritise, fund and coordinate national and cross-boundary enforcement cases.
	In Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has set up a Scottish Consumer Protection National Enforcement Team (SCPNET), which will reduce consumer detriment by putting in place processes to prioritise national and regional enforcement in Scotland. The OFT produces an annual analysis of the benefits to consumers from all of its work, with this year's report showing that over the last three years the OFT achieved an estimated benefit to consumers of at least eight times its cost to the taxpayer.
	See page 5 of the OFT annual report and accounts 2011-12 at
	http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/annual_report/2012/OFT_Annual_Report_and_Resou1.pdf
	It estimates that for the period 2009-12, its consumer protection enforcement work resulted in savings to consumers of an average of £35 million per year, not including wider deterrent effects or other consumer protection work such as education and awareness campaigns.

Insolvency

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to investigate (a) the relationship between invoice finance providers, banks and insolvency practitioners and (b) the treatment of small and medium-sized enterprises by such bodies.

Michael Fallon: The Government is aware of the concerns that have been raised and we are currently looking into them in more detail. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Treasury and the Insolvency Service are all engaged, and we are in contact with the relevant industry bodies.

Manchester Declaration

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent contribution his Department and its non-departmental public bodies and agencies have made to implementation of the 2005 Manchester Declaration.

Jo Swinson: The Department; its agencies and non departmental public bodies support the Government's commitment—in line with the 2005 Manchester declaration—to use digital technologies to transform the quality of public service, improving transparency; ensuring value for money and to support economic growth.
	The Manchester declaration has now been replaced by the Malmo Declaration on which the Cabinet Office lead.

New Businesses: Young People

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many delivery partners have received formal offers under the start up loans scheme.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 17 September 2012
	Eight offer letters have been issued, after being approved by the Start Up Loans company's delivery panel. These seven include one partner who gives the programme national coverage and six who work in specific localities. All eight provide a full service from access to the youth market, through pre-application support, making loans and providing mentors. The first loans have now been made and there have been over one thousand application inquiries through the website and Facebook.

New Businesses: Young People

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses are using premises under the start up spaces scheme; and what the total number of premises currently available is under the scheme.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 17 September 2012
	On 31 May 2012 Government invited bids from potential providers to manage 24 vacant government spaces in England and Scotland. The procurement has now closed and officials are working with bidders, Government Departments and their landlords to process bids. It is not possible to provide detailed information as the work is commercially sensitive.

Olympic Games 2012

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic Route Network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn. This will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic Route Networks.

Regional Growth Fund

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many jobs have been created since the launch of the Regional Growth Fund in (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Birmingham; and what the average financial cost was of each job created.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 14 September 2012
	Bidders to rounds 1 and 2 of regional growth fund (RGF) anticipate creating or safeguarding 330,000 gross jobs in England over the period 2011 to 2021. Bidders in the west midlands anticipated 69,100 jobs when they requested £232.5 million over 31 bids, and within that figure, for Birmingham it was 20,221 jobs (£119 million over seven bids). The gross cost per job on average across England is £4,200: for the west midlands, it is £3,365 and of that figure, for Birmingham £5,886.
	RGF awards are conditional on the delivery of monitored jobs and private sector investment. Based on the above gross jobs figure, the delivery of approximately 110,000 jobs is monitored directly: 220,000 are indirect supply chain jobs that are derived from the amount of private sector investment in the economy.
	Nationwide, jobs have already been created or safeguarded due to private investment and projects that start, and so create jobs, before they make their first RGF claim; in the west midlands, over 1,400 jobs have been created in this way, including at JLR.
	Monitoring shows that 10,246 direct jobs have been created to date for England, from projects and programmes. The relevant projects and programmes in this region are at an early stage: monitoring via the claims they have made shows that 122 jobs have been confirmed in the west midlands and none in Birmingham yet, although the Birmingham Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative is committed to create 5,000 jobs over its lifetime and their award process is under way.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2012, Official Report, column 404W, on the Regional Growth Fund, which key performance metrics Regional Growth Fund awards are monitored against on a quarterly basis; and how many winning bidders under (a) round 1, (b) round 2 and (c) round 3 of the Regional Growth Fund have failed to meet required standards under those metrics.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 17 September 2012
	Regional Growth Fund (RGF) project grants are triggered by the achievement of a number of different outputs, tailored according to the details of the project. These include jobs created or safeguarded, leveraged investment, infrastructure created, R&D funds invested or training places.
	RGF project payments are made after the applicant has carried out the contracted activity and submits evidence of these outputs: this then triggers a payment claim. Of the 127 cases in Rounds 1 and 2 where the final grant offer letter has been accepted and thus a legal contract exists between the Government and the applicant, 80 are due to have made at least one claim with accompanying evidence. Of these, 55 have claimed on schedule, six are ahead of schedule, and 19 are behind schedule. The reasons for those behind schedule vary, including unexpected delays to other investments and economic activity not reaching the anticipated levels. In such circumstances, the local programme delivery teams work with the company to address problems and bring the grant back on track, or examine whether the changes to the grant size or conditions are needed for the project to succeed. No bids have yet been approved for Round 3 as we are currently finalising appraisals and will announce successful bidders next month.

Regional Growth Fund: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of funding awarded through the Regional Growth Fund has reached front-line businesses in the North East.

Michael Fallon: £160 million has been awarded to projects in the North East from the first two Regional Growth Fund (RGF) bidding rounds. These offers equate to 76 awards to individual front line businesses and two infrastructure and business premises projects in Newcastle. Of these, awards have been finalised for 44 projects worth £58 million; terms have been agreed for a further 20 projects worth an additional £63 million. Seven projects worth £28 million have withdrawn from the process before a final offer was made to them. Seven awards worth a total £11 million have not yet agreed terms. Officials are working closely with these bidders and have informed them if they are unable to progress their offers by the end of September 2012 their RGF allocation will be withdrawn.
	Beneficiaries draw down RGF funding in arrears of private sector investment as per their requirements. At 14 September 2012, 19 companies from the North East who have submitted their claims have had £20.5 million paid to them.
	I expect to announce third round allocations next month.

Regional Growth Fund: Warwickshire

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been awarded to businesses in Warwickshire through the Regional Growth Fund to date.

Michael Fallon: In Warwickshire, Regional Growth Fund conditional allocations of £3,035,000 have been made from the first two rounds of bidding. We expect to announce third round allocations next month.

Research: Finance

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether it is still the Government's policy to increase UK investment in research and development to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

David Willetts: The Government does not have a target for UK investment in research and development as a proportion of GDP.

Spacecraft

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the European Space Agency on the viability of the Skylon Spaceplace; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Neither I nor UK Space Agency officials have held discussions with the European Space Agency recently. Officials continue to work with the company to establish a business case and the technical viability of the Skylon Spaceplane.

Unemployment: Young People

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people aged 18 to 24 years in Peterborough constituency who are not in employment, education or training; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: In Building Engagement, Building Futures, we set out our strategy to increase the proportion of young people participating in education, employment or training and address the challenge of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
	We are expanding the apprenticeships programme and will fund up to 250,000 more apprenticeships over the spending review period compared to the previous Government's plans. We are investing £1.5 billion this year. We have also introduced the 'Access to Apprenticeships' programme for 16 to 24-year-olds that will benefit up to 10,000 vulnerable young people who need extra help to become an apprentice.
	In addition, we are helping young people into work through pre-employment training for those on active benefits, work experience opportunities and continuation of the graduate talent pool. The Work Programme provides unemployed young people with personalised support and training to help them into sustainable work. The £1 billion youth contract will also provide extra support to unemployed young people in addition to what is already available through Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme.

Employment Schemes: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed by Liverpool-based companies under (a) the Welfare to Work programme and (b) the Work Programme in each of the last five years.

Mark Hoban: The data collected in the last five years about Welfare to Work programmes and the Work Programme does not enable an analysis of how many people were employed by Liverpool based companies.

Employment Schemes: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies have taken part in the Welfare to Work programme in Liverpool.

Mark Hoban: The data collected on Welfare to Work programmes does not enable an analysis of how many companies have taken part in Liverpool.

Minimum Wage: Young People

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of hours worked per week by people aged (a) 16 to 17 and (b) 18 to 20 who are in receipt of the national minimum wage.

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Based on the most recent data from the 2011 Annual Survey of Household Earnings we estimate that for all 16 to 17-year-olds, earning around the national minimum wage of £3.68 the average weekly hours was 15.0 hours (not including overtime). For 18 to 20-year-olds, earning around the national minimum wage of £4.98, the average weekly hours was 21.5 hours a week (not including overtime).
	The estimates here are based on the 5 pence earnings band that includes the national minimum wage.

Post Office Card Account

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2012, Official Report, column 652W, on social security benefits: post office card account, what steps he has taken to estimate the number of claimants who wish to have universal credit payments paid into a Post Office card account.

Steve Webb: Discussions about what accounts people can be paid into are ongoing. No estimate has been made of the number of claimants who might wish to have their payments paid into a post office card account.

Welfare State: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met the Education Minister in the Scottish Government to discuss welfare reform; and what correspondence he has received from the Minister on that matter.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has not met with the Scottish Minister for Education to discuss welfare reform.
	Following a search of our records we cannot locate any correspondence received from the Minister in relation to welfare reform.

Welfare State: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met the Minister for Youth Employment in the Scottish Government to discuss welfare reform; and what correspondence he has received from the Minister in relation to that matter.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has not met with the Scottish Minister for Youth Employment to discuss welfare reform. Following a search of our records we cannot locate any correspondence received from the Minister in relation to welfare reform.